County Championship - Division One

Somerset 463 beat Nottinghamshire 133 & 184 by an innings and 146 runs

CRAIG Overton became the second Somerset player to take a hat-trick in the match as his side rounded off their County Championship season with a thumping innings victory at Nottinghamshire.

What's more, each of Overton's victims were caught by the same player, Marcus Trescothick, at second slip - just the third time the same fielder has taken all three catches in a hat-trick in First Class history.

Overton's exploits were all the more remarkable given that Tom Abell had taken a hat-trick of his own only yesterday.

The England seamer removed Ben Slater (49), Samit Patel and Kepler Wessels with successive deliveries in just the second over of the morning to get Somerset's day off to a flyer.

Overton's second career First Class hat-trick - he achieved the same feat playing for the MCC against Middlesex in 2017 - left the hosts reeling on 119-6 and from then it was a matter of time as to when Somerset would wrap up the win.

Lewis Gregory claimed the scalps of Ben Duckett (15) and Luke Wood (4), and it was left to Josh Davey to seal the victory as he had Tom Moores caught at slip for 17 before pinning Matt Carter (22) in front as the tailender had a hoik across the line.

Gregory and Craig Overton finish the season level at the top of Somerset's bowling charts with 37 wickets apiece - Josh Davey claimed 35, with Jack Leach on 30.

Notts were bowled out for 184 and survived relegation by the skin of their teeth, finishing above Lancashire by virtue of having won more games after the two sides ended up level on points.

Somerset, by contrast, have equalled their best ever County Championship finish of second and have plenty of reasons to be optimistic for what the future may hold.

Craig Overton said: "Obviously it was my first over and I sent down a couple of looseners, then it came out alright and I got going with the first one.

“The one to the left-hander (Slater) swung a bit and nipped away. Then it was the right-handers (Patel and Wessels). I always enjoy bowling to right-handers if it’s swinging. The one to Riki bounced a little bit and caught the top of the bat on it’s way to Tres.

“Then I was away on a long run to celebrate.”

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry added: “We’re obviously disappointed not to have won any silverware but the team has made real progress over the course of the season.

“If we can bring some of the younger players on over the winter then I think we’ve got what it takes to go one better in the County Championship.”